Two UCLA women’s soccer players team up with alumni-founded law firm in NIL deal

(Sophia Kim/Daily Bruin)

By Rahaf Abumansour
Jan. 28, 2025 11:16 p.m.
Playing Division I sports is a commitment.
Donning national colors is an honor.
Giving back to the community is a calling.
From competing for UCLA women’s soccer to representing Team Mexico, junior forward America Frias and sophomore midfielder Val Vargas have made names for themselves on the field. But now, they’re channeling that same drive and commitment to make an impact beyond the game.
Vargas and Frias signed a three-month name, image and likeness deal with the law firm Adamson Ahdoot in October – a partnership the pair is using to support the greater Los Angeles community. Through this collaboration, Vargas and Frias aim to connect individuals with free personal injury resources on their social media pages.
“We’re just trying to get the word out about what they can do for communities that we’re both a part of,” Frias said.
Frias and Vargas’ involvement with Adamson Ahdoot helps them share essential safety information, legal guidance and resources geared toward supporting and championing Hispanic communities and families.
Vargas and Frias have collectively garnered a following of 15,000 on their respective Instagram pages, with their initial collaborative post announcing their partnerships with Adamson Ahdoot attracting over 11,000 views.
Adamson Ahdoot, a plaintiff-focused personal injury law firm, was founded in 2010 by 2022 UCLA alumni Christopher Adamson and Alan Ahdoot. According to its website, the firm is dedicated to advocating for individuals who have suffered injury or been wronged due to others’ negligence or misconduct.
“Oftentimes, the people involved have never been through anything like this and don’t have any real experience or any specialized expertise in dealing with insurance companies the way these claims work,” Adamson said.

As a first-of-its-kind NIL deal with a law firm, said Peter Iwuh, the CEO of Tykoon Sports and the person who facilitated the deal, it encourages athletes to use their platforms for larger, community-centered purposes that can spark initiatives beyond sports.
Frias and Vargas – both members of Mexico’s 2022 NCAA championship-winning national team – made 15 and 12 starts, respectively, for UCLA in 2024 after the pair missed the first nine weeks while representing Mexico.
Vargas was a starter on Mexico’s 2023 Concacaf Championship-winning Under-20 National Team, while Frias was a member of Mexico’s 2022 FIFA Under-20 World Cup Team, which advanced to the quarterfinals.

Vargas said she and Frias didn’t understand the firm’s impact until they met with Adamson and Ahdoot.
“They explained how they help people who don’t know how to ask for help or where to turn,” Vargas said. “I feel like we can help with that, using our platforms.”
The firm has long been dedicated to serving the Latino community, fostering connections that honor the family support system central to its success and building partnerships with UCLA through student-athlete initiatives.
Adamson said a major reason for the collaboration’s success was Vargas’ and Frias’ character and integrity.
“One of the things that really came out of that meeting is how much they care about the respective communities that they’ve come from and their respective familial lineages and why it’s important to speak to communities and to people who are underserved and underrepresented in the US and make sure that those communities still have a voice,” Adamson said.